Founding Document

Abstract of Proposal for Graduate Degrees in Modern Thought and Literature

The proposal is to establish a small interdisciplinary program leading to a Ph.D. in "Modern Thought and Literature". Modern is interpreted to mean from the Enlightenment to the present. The new degree would be intended for students planning to teach modern literature, either in one of the established departments or in interdisciplinary programs. It is conceived primarily in terms of changing and expanding needs in undergraduate education, but also in terms of new patterns of criticism and scholarship. There will be an increasing demand, especially in the newest institution for scholars who have given considerable emphasis to recent literature and who are qualified to do interdisciplinary teaching and research. Even in the older universities more and more professors of literature are concerning themselves with the social sciences and other arts. Freshman English, for instance, is in many colleges being replaced by interdisciplinary courses or seminars. The Committee believes that at least some professors of modern literature should, quite apart from any question of demand, be familiar with diverse aspects of contemporary culture, or with one or more of the adjacent disciplines that have so affected the modern consciousness-dynamic psychology, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, religious studies,  political, and social thought. Many younger teachers of literature now apply theoretical positions drawn from other areas to the study of literature, or establish relationships between literature and other arts. One purpose of the proposal degree is to prepare the to do these things in a more informed, less hit-or-miss way.

The present proposal for a new degree is novel in the sense that it envisages a Ph.D., in part literary, that does not go back to the beginnings, but instead seeks breadth within the modern period. It it novel too in its frank encouragement of committee strongly believe that creative writing or other artistic activity contributes to the development of the teacher of modern literature, if only by giving him insight into the creative process. A reasonable amount of creative work (the amount to be approved by the student's advisory committee) may be counted among the 72 units required. Students specializing in modern English and American literature must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language comparable to that required by the Department of English, and an advanced reading knowledge of one other foreign language. The language requirements for students specializing in a foreign literature are to be determined by the appropriate advisory committee.

A full assessment will be made of progress both in the modern literature of specialization and in the chosen areas of interdisciplinary work. This assessment may take the form of written or oral examinations, a series of monographs covering the work done, or, for certain areas, public lectures and discussions. The university oral examination will be normally be taken in the third year of graduate study, and will cover the field of intensive concentration (as defined by the student and his advisory committee) ad the plans for dissertation. The dissertation may be driven from the literature of specialization, from some area of non-literary thought or activity, or from some combination of the two.

Normally students on teaching fellowships will be available for teaching in the appropriate departments, as needed, and for teaching in Freshman seminars or in such undergraduate interdisciplinary programs as may develop.